Rotary card-sorter.



W. W. LASKEH.

ROTARY CARD SORTER.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.z9.1917.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919k lfd/leases;

W. W. LASKER.

ROTARY CARD SOHTER.. APPLICATION FILED AuG.29. 1911.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919 SHEETS-SHEET 2,.

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W. W. LASKER. ROTARY CARD SORTER. APPLICATIN man Aue.29. |911.

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\ W. WL LAS'KER.

ROTARY CARD SOHTER.

APPUcATioN FILED AuG.2a. |917.

Patented Apr. 1,1919.

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l W: Z sier, y las da lzesses UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE.

f WILLIAM W. LASKER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '.lO POWERSACCOUNTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, .N. Y., A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE.

ROTARY Gann-sommi..

To all whom 'it may concern Be a known that I, WILLIAM w. LA'SKE'R,

a citizen of theUnited States, residing in` Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rotary Card- Sorters, of which the following. is aspecifip cation.

Thisv invention relates to machines for sorting perforated lcards suchas are used in automatic calculating and adding machines. One object ofthe invention is to provide a maclnne having 4a conveyer adaptedtoreceive from the analyzer, and simultaneously convey 4several cards tothe compartments by eliminating all power losses which might y be causedby reversingA or changing the direction of motion of the parts'. t

Another object is to provide a convenient and economical arrangement ofconstruction for the card receiving compartments.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eccentrically operatedanalyzer pin box, andan cccentrically operated card feeding means,therebyeliminating the use of cams and the power losses due thereto.

Other objects are to provide eflicient and economically manufacturedselective means for operatively connecting theanalyzer with the meansfor conducting the cards to their appropriatev compartments, andsuitable means for adjusting the analyzer and said selective means tothe particular l1ne of perforations to be analyzed.

y While herein I have minutely described various details of thelmachine, it is understood that the invention.y i's not .limited tothese, since the details of construction andJ combination may be greatlyvaried without speciincation bf Letter; Patent. l Patented Apr, 1, 1919Application led August 29, 1917. Serial No. 188,718. s

depart-ing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. l v

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 -of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental -sectional view, taken approximately onthe line 4 4 of Fig,1;-"

Fig. 5 is a fragmental side elevation showing parts of the means forselectively operating the card conveying means; and Fig. 6 is anenlarged fragmental sectional view of the analyzer adjustingmeans. y

On the main frame of the machine 10 are mounted the card feeding means11, the analyzing means 12, the card receiving 'compartments 14, `meansfor conveying the cards from the analyzer and selectively depositingthem in the various compartments, andthe motor 15 for 'driving variousmechanisms.

The card feeding means 11l and the analyzer 12 are located on the upperpart of one end of the machine, and are similar in constructionto thatdescribed in the application of J as. Powers, Serial No. A33863, tiled lJune 14th 1915; hence. they need not now be shown or described in alltheir details.

The upper part of the feeding means comprises a magazine hopper 18,adapted to receive a-v pack of the cards to be sorted, and at the lowerpart of the feeding means there is provided a reciprocating block 19guided in the lower part of the feeding means and connected by means` ofa link 20, vto a level'. arm 21 mounted on the shaft 24 carried .on theframe ofthe machine, and provided with an arm 25' connected to a link 26having lts end28 eccentrically mounted on the eccentric-shaft 29, drivenby means of sultable driving means, hereinafter mentloned from themotor-15, whereby the block 19 1s reciprocated in the lower part of themagazine '18. The block 19 is provided witha '.feedlng knife 34 whereby,when the block 19 1s reclprocated, the lowermost card is fedv forwardlthrough the micrometer slot 35 at the outletl side ofthe feeding means.

From the micrometer slot 35, the cardA is received between feed rollers36 and 38, the latter mounted on the shaft 40, suitably driven by thesprocket chain 41 from the drive pulley 44 of the motor 15. From theshaft 40 suitable gears 46 convey power to lthe eccentric-shaft 29, andto the conveying rollers 48, which latter are adapted to withdraw thecards from the analyzer l2, and deliver them to the conveying means, aswill be explained. n

The cards are conveyed by the rollers 36 and 38 into the space betweenthe perforated plates 50, suitably supported on the frame of themachine.

The pin'box 52 is adjustably mounted on the side-pieces 54` (Fig. 2)carried on the end pieces 55 (Fig. 2) vertically slidably mounted on theposts 56 carried on the frame of the machine. Said box, side pieces, andend pieces are vertically reciprocated by means o f ,links 58 havingtheir lower ends receiving the eccentrics 59 on the eccentric shaft 29..n l For times` when the cards are exhausted or are improperly placedbetween the perforate plates 50, there is provided the usual automaticstop comprising a stop pin 60 (Fig. 4), carried by the verticallyvslidable rod 62 yieldably pressed downwardly by the. spring 61 andadapted to be by a normally placed card, held out of contact with aswitch lever 63 (Fig. 1), but adapted t0 be permitted, by al wronglyplaced card or the absence of a card, to-move downwardly to actuate theswitch lever 68 to throw the electric switch 64 and cut oif the sourceof power to the motor.

The pin box is provided with a row of pins 65 which may register withany one of the rows of perforations of the plates 50,

when the box is adjusted on the side pieces 54, as explained, in whichosition the pin box is held by detents 66 (Figs. 2 and 6) engaging thenotched bars 68 secured to the side pieces 54.

The pins 65, as explained in the beforementioned patent application areyieldably pressed against the perforated cards, andy that pin whichfinds a perforation, passes through the card during the downward motionof the pin-box,` and is then locked against retrograde motion relativeto the pin-box by means of the sliding lockingplate 70 (Figs. 2 and 6),which is moved against the row of pins and engages over an annular lug11 (Fig. 4), of such pin as passes through a perforation, whereby suchpin is locked. This sliding movement of the locking-plate is broughtabout by means of bell-cranks 74 fulcrumed as at 75 upon the side-pieces54, and each provided with a slot T6 in which engages a pin 7 8 carriedon uprights 79 slidably mounted on the rods 80 `fixed to the frame ofthe machine. Said rods hold said uprights 79 against vertical movement,whereby thebell-crank 74 is oscillated for bringing about thereciprocation of the locking-pins.

Continued downward movement of the pin after it has been locked by thelockingplate causes the pin to bear against one of the plunger pins orplungers 85 (Fig. 6)

which corresponds in number to the pins 65V and are carried in a block86 mounted on sleeves 88 (Fig. 4). slidably mounted on shafts 89 carriedby the Vframe of the machine.

'The plunger-s 85 when depressed by the analyzing pins, transmit motionto the movable member of push-cables 90 for operating the selectedmechanism of the cardconveyer as will be explained.

It is, of course, necessary that the plungers 85 remain always inregister with the analyzing pins 65, as for instance when the pin-box ismoved upon the side-pieces 54 as heretofore explained. v Registration iseffected by means of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6 which will now beexplained. The

.lower ends of the analyzing pins 65 slide in parallelly to the endlportions of the outer l i ribbon 96 by being passed under the smallrollersl 99, mounted upon the lower perforated plate 50. This holds theribbons spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit the perforatedplates 50 to be disposed therebetween. The intermediate part of saidribbons are positively secured\together; and it is evident thatlongitudinal motion of the pin-box and consequentlythe block 94 upon therod will positively constrain the block 86 to move an equal amount'uponthe rod' 89, thus always assuring that the row ofv plungers shall alwaysremain in register with the pins 65. l

The cards are received from the rollers 48 (Fig. 1) and are carried bythe conveyers and deposited in the compartments 14. The construction andthe mounting of these compartments will now be described. At one side ofthc main frame ofthe machine, there is carried a standard 100 (Fig. 3)provided at its upper end with a horizontal bore in which is secured asleeve 101 on the inner end of which is fixed a supporting drum 102, inthe periphery of which are radially slidable follower rods 105, carryingat the outer ends followers 106 adapted to press outwardly the cardscarried in said compart-` end wall of the compartments is formed by' anannular plate 112 secured by meansof bolts 115 (Fig. 3) to said drum.The outer ends of the compartments are left-open for the manual removaland insertion of cards.

The cards are held in the compartments against' the outwardly directedpressure of the followers 106 by means of pairs of bent metal straps 118forming deflecting gates, for the cards, and fixed upon rods2119rotatably mounted in brackets 120 fixed to the walls 110, said rodsprojecting a distance `through the inner wall plate 112 and carry` ingcam-levers 121 (Figs. 1 and 2) disposed nism.

inl helical relation around the machine for a purpose that will beexplained. The deflecting gates are normally held closed by means ofsprings 122. v

Now will-be described the means for conveying the card from the rollers48 to the compartments 14.

Rotatably mounted upon bearings 130 (Fig. 3) is disposed Va spider 131carrying a ring 132 and a sprocket wheel 135 overl whiclrpasses a chain136 (Fig. 1) from a wheel 138 on the shaft 29, whereby spider is rotatedwith eccentric shaft one time, for instance, for six rotations of theeccentric shaft. Y l

p Rings 139 and 140 similar to the ring 132 are secured to and held inspaced relation with the latter by means of connecting rods,

141 (Figs. 1 and 5) secured to all three of said rings, thereby forminga revolving.

frame for supporting the conveyer mecha- This frame is supportedon oneside by the bearings 130 and on the other side by flange wheels 144(Fig. 1) carried on brackets 145 supported on the base of the mainframe.

Disposed around the conveyer frame there are rotatably mounted, in therings 132, 139 and 140, a. set of, for instance, 6 clamping spindles 146eac-h carrying a pair of clamping jaws 147 adapted to coperate under theaction of springs 148 with clamping brackets 149 carried on the rings139 and 140. Each spindle 146 carries thereon an arm 150 (Fig, 5) havingat its outer end a roller 152 adapted to engage a. cam-bracketI 153carried on the wallplate 112 in such a position that, when the conveyerframe is rotated in tion that the tripping the direction ofthe arrow ofFig. 5 said roller will contact the cam-bracket and cause the spindle torotatev and the. clamping jaw 147 to open justas a card is deliveredfrom the rollers 48, at which instant the roller passes from thecam-bracket and permits the clamping jaws to close upon and grasp thecard.' Since in the example shown there are 6 spindles 141 and the shaft29 rotates 6 times as fast as the conveyer frame. There will be a pairofjaws 147 in positionlto receive a card at each delivery of a. cardfrom the rollers 40. Of course, the specific number of clampingmechanisms may be varied lif desired, in which case the relative speedof rotation of the conveyer frame and the eccentric shaft would bevaried.

The cards grasped by the jaws '147 are carried past the deflector grates118. The

mechanism for causing the deflector gates to open to conductI cards intothe respective compartments, will now be described.

Upon each connecting rod 141 (Figs. 2

ping arms 160, equal 1n number to the entire number of cam-leyers 121,and each carrying at its free end a roller 161 adapted, when thetripping arm is depressed as will and l 5) there are fulcrumed aplurality of tripbe explained to engage and trip one of, the cam-levers,thereby opening outwardly the deflector gates 118, thereby causing thecard to be pulled from thejaws 147, andguided by the deflected gate intot-he compartment.

It will be noted that each tripping arm 160 is provided with an inwardlyprojecting finger 162 andan onwardly projecting shoulder 164,somewhatoffset from said finger.

At the instant the card is inthe analyzer f being analyzed,l there is aset of jaws 147 and associated fingers 162 in a position pins.168verticallyslidable in the pin block 169 (Figs.v 3 and 5).

The pin block 169 is placed in such a posibeen pushed upwardly willengage -the passing finger 162 associated with the clamping jaw 147,which is to receive the card whose analysis caused the tripping. Thistripping throws tripping arm 160 downwardly to tripping position andcauses the finger 164 to be caught behindthe hooked end 170 of` abell-crank 171 provided with a downwardly Aextending arm 172 andyieldably held in contact .with the finger 17 0 by means of a s rin 175tensioned between the outerarm o sai pin y 168 which has bell-crank anda projection 176l projecting d from' the fulcrumed end of the trippinglever 160, whereby the tripping lever is also yieldabl held in outwardposition. When any analyzing pin passes through a perforation andoperates a tripping pin, that lever 160 which is adapted to contact thecamlever 121 of the compartment into which such card is destined to bedeposited,.is the one which is tripped by the tripping pin; and -thetripping pins, the analyzing pins, and the cam-levers 121 are arrangedin such order that this must take place.

It will be noted that the discard or overflow compartment 180 justbeneath the rollers 48 (Fig. 1) provided with a permanently opendeflector 181, for deiecting into such compartment any card notdeflected into vother compartments, as for instance, when such card hasno perforation inthe column being analyzed.

The operation will be clear from the foregoing and need noW only bebriefly summarized as follows The cards to be analyzed are arranged inthe hopper 18, and the pinbox is' adjusted along the side pieces 154until the analyzing pins and plunger pins register With the column to beanalyzed. The machine is then started and the cards passed into theanalyzer one by one and are analyzed by downward movement of thepin-box. This movement causes the outward movement Vof the tripping pins168 just as the finger -162 passes, whereupon the tripping arm 160corresponding to the card being analyzed is tripped inwardly. As theconveyer frame ycontinues to rotate, the card is ejected from theanalyzer just in time to be caught by the jaws 147 associated with suchtripping arm, and the analyzer frame continues to rotate until therollervll of the tripped arm 160 comes into contact with thecorresponding cam-lever 121, thus opening the deiector gate andconducting the card in its appropriate compartment.

After the card has been deflected into its proper compartment, continuedrotation of the conveyer frame causes the inwardly projecting arm 172(Fig. 5) to come into contact with atripping blade 184, 'which causesthe hooked end 170 to disengage from the shoulder 161 and permit thetripping arm 160 to resume its normal position.

Should-it happen that no tripping lever 160 be set for a card, as forinstance whenv such card has lno perforation in the column beinganalyzed, such card will not be deposited in one of t-he compartments1-1, but will be deflected by the permanently open deflector 181 ,intothe overflow compartment 180.

I claimy yas my invention 1. In a card sorter, the combination of acircular series .of compartments; a conveyer for conveying cards `to allthe compartments; means for feeding cards tosaid coni,29s,971 t vcircular series of compartments; a conveyer for carrying the cards toall of said compartments; means `f0r feeding the cards to the conveyer;a plurality of disengaging means for said cards, one for each compartment; and means controlled by the perforations on said cards forrendering said disengaging means effective as a card reaches thecompartment corresponding to its perforation.

3. In a card sorter, the combination of a plurality of stations; aconveyer. for carrying the cards to allof said stations through a.common path; means for feeding the cards to the conveyer; means fordisengaging the cards from the conveyer; and record actuated meansoperating in synchronism with the conveyer for controlling the operationof said disengaging means t0 effect the delivery 1 of the` cards tothesorting stations corresponding thereto.

4. In a cardssorterythe combination of a I circular series ofcompartments; a conveyer for ycarrying the cards to all of saldcompartdelecting means for disengaging the ycards from t-he conveyer;and card actuated means operatingin synchronism with -the conveyer. forcontrolling the operation of said deflect-- ing means to effect thedelivery of the cards to the sorting stations corresponding to theindex-points thereon.

5. Inl a card-sorter for sorting recordments through a common path ofmovement; -f means for lfeedlng the cards to the conveyer; y

cards having perforations thereon, the combination of a plurality ofsorting stations.

means comprising operating levers located 1n accordance with theperforatlons on the cards; a conveyer for said cards; and adjustablelmeans on saidl conveyer actuated through the instrumentality of a cardfor operating the aforesaid means to discharge the cards from theconveyer into said sorting stations.

6. In a card-sorter, the combination of a clrcular serles of sortingcompartments;

means comprising operating levers located in accordance'with theindex-point positions on the cards a conveyer for said cards; andsettable card actuated means on said conveyer actuated through theinstrumentality of'the card for operating levers to discharge the cardsfrom the conveyer into said compartments.

7. In a card-sorter, the combinatlon of a circular series ofcompartments; a conveyer y for carrying the cards to all of saidcomveyer during the travel of the latter; a group of settable membersassociated with each conveyer, members of the same group moving indifferent paths; a deflector gate for each compartment adapted to -beoperated by a a corresponding set 'settable member of each group todeflect into the compartment a card from the associated conveyer; and aplurality of setting members of which the one, corresponding to a cardin the analyzer is adapted to be operated by the analyzer to set thesettable member corresponding to that compartment which are to receivesuch card, to cause such settable member to cause the deflector gate todeflect the card into such compartment. V

9. In a card-sorter, the combination of a card analyzing means; anendless series of compartments; a series of conveyers adapted to receivecards from the card analyzing f means and successively to pass saldcompartments; means for opening each conveyer as 1t reaches a certainpoint 1n lts travel and lmmedlately closmg 1t; means for feeding lcardsfrom the analyzing means into lthe opened conveyer; a plurality oflsettable means associated and traveling withthe conveyer, the differentsettable means of each conveyer traveling in different paths; adeflector gate for each compartment and each provided with' an operatingcam lever dis` posed near the path of the settable meansv correspondingto such compartment and adapted to be tripped by said settable means tocause the infiector gate to deflect a card from the conveyer into thecompartment; setting means adapted t0 be operated by the analyzing meansin accordance with the card therein and adapted to set the settablemeans J Aassociated with the conveyer which'is to receive said card,-and corresponding to the cam lever'associated with the compartment whichis to receive said card; means for holding the set settable means in setposition `until it hastripped the correspondmg cam lever and caused thedeflector gate to deflect the card. from the conveyer into thecompartment; and means for causing the means after it has caused thedeiector gate to deflect the card.

10. In a card-sorter; the combination of a vcard analyzer; a series ofcompartments;

' operating the deflectorgates; and pushvca to the compartments;delecting means; and push cables operated by the analyzer for operatinsaid deecting means.

11. n a card-sorter, the combination of a card analyzer having analyzerpins; a series of compartments; a deflector gate for each compartment;plungers coperating with the analyzer pins; settable means for selectivebles connected to said plungers and adapted to operate said settablemeans.

12.111 a card-sorter, the combination of an analyzer; a series ofcompartments; a revolving conveyer comprising clamping jaws; meansforopening said Yjaws when they are in position to receive cards from theanalyzer; and means for deflecting cards from the jaws into thecompartments. 13. In a card-sorter, the combination of an analyzer; a-series of compartments; ,a revolving conveyer comprising clamping jaws;means for opening said jaws when they are' in position to receive cardsfrom the analyzer; settable means for delecting cards from the jaws intosaid compartments; and means operated by said analyzer for setting saidsettable means before said jaws arrive at said position.

14. In a card-sorter, the combination of an analyzer; a series ofkcompartments; a revolving series of conveyers adapted to, re-

ceive cards from the analyzer; a plurality 0f settable means associatedand. traveling with each conveyer each provided with a shoulder; adeflected gate for eacl compartment'and each provided with an operatingcam lever disposed lnear the path f the settablev means corresponding tosuch compartments and adapted to be tripped by a settable means to causea card to be deiected into a Icompartment; setting means operated by ananalyzer-and adapted to set' the settable means; a springpres'sedpivoted hook adapted to engage said shoulder and Ihold the setsettableme'ans set until the card has been deflected; into acompartment; and

means for tripping saidpivoted hook after the card has been depositedfor causing the release of the settable means.

15. In a card-sorter, the combination of a frame; a card analyzerthereon; a standard on-said frame; a sleeve carried in said standard; adrum mounted on said sleeve; a plurality. of compartments mounted on aframe; an analyzer. supported thereon; a 13`0A 12ol the periphery ofsaid drum; a supporting drum on said frame provided with longitudinallydisposed peripheralgrooves arranged therearound; triangularly bentpieces of sheet-metal forming compartment partitions and having theirfree side edges brought together and secured in4 said grooves; and meansfor conveying cards from the analyzer to the compartments.

17. In a card-sorter, the combination of a plurality of circularlydisposed compartiments; outwardly spring pressed, radially disposedfollower rods mounted in said, compartments; followers on said rods; andmeans for analyzing cards and forcing them into said compartments.

18. In a card-sorter, the combination of a reciprocating analyzer frame;a pair of stationary of analyzer plates disposed Iunder said frame andprovided with rows of per.

forations; a pin box slidable on said frame and providedy with a row ofanalyzer pins adapted to register with anyone of the rows of saidperforations; a pin block receiving said pins and disposed above saidplates and held against vertical movement; a plunger block slidablydisposed below said plates; plunger pins in said block; means forholding said plunger pins in register with' said analyzer pms.

1.9. In a card-sorter, the combination of a reciprocating analyzerframe; a pair of stationary analyzer plates disposed under said frameand provided with rows of perforations; a pin box slidable on said frameand provided with a row of pins adapted to register with anyone of therows of said perforations; a pin block receiving said pins and disposedabove said plates and held against vertical movement; a plunger blockslidably disposed below said plates; a pair of grooved rollers at eachend of said plates; pairs of superposed ribbons dis- WILLIAM W. LASKER.

- Witnesses:

